IMAS 07.

12
Draft First Edition
( 1st July 2016)

IMAS 07.12
Draft First Edition
1st July 2016

Quality Management in Mine

Action

Director,
United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS)
1 United Nations Plaza, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10017
USA

Email: mineaction@un.org
Telephone: +1 (212) 963 0691
Fax: +1 (212) 963 2498
Website: www.mineactionstandards.org
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Warning
This document is current with effect from the date shown on the cover page. As the
International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) are subject to regular review and revision,
users should consult the IMAS project website in order to verify its status at
(http://www.mineactionstandards.org/, or through the UNMAS website at
http://www.mineaction.org).

Copyright notice
This UN document is an International Mine Action Standard (IMAS) and is copyright
protected by the UN. Neither this document, nor any extract from it, may be
reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form, or by any means, for any other purpose
without prior written permission from UNMAS, acting on behalf of the UN.

This document is not to be sold.

Director
United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS)
th
1 United Nations Plaza, 6 Floor
New York, NY 10017
USA

Email: mineaction@un.org

Telephone: +1 (212) 963 0691

Fax: +1 (212) 963 2498

© UNMAS 2001 – All rights reserved

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Contents
Contents .........................................................................................................................................ii
Foreword ........................................................................................................................................iv
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1
0.1. General approach .......................................................................................................... 1
0.2. Relationship to ISO 9001 ............................................................................................... 1
0.3. Background .................................................................................................................... 1
0.4. Quality in Mine Action .................................................................................................... 2
0.5. QM and Results Based Management (RBM) ................................................................. 2
0.6. Mine action products ...................................................................................................... 3
0.7. Principles of QM in Mine Action ..................................................................................... 3
0.7.1 General...................................................................................................................... 3
0.7.2 Customer focus ......................................................................................................... 3
0.7.3 Leadership ................................................................................................................ 4
0.7.4 Engagement of people .............................................................................................. 4
0.7.5 Gender and diversity ................................................................................................. 4
0.7.6 Process approach ..................................................................................................... 4
0.7.7 Continual improvement ............................................................................................. 5
0.7.8 Evidence-based decision-making ............................................................................. 6
0.7.9 Relationship management ........................................................................................ 7
0.8. Risk management and quality ........................................................................................ 7
0.9. Relationships to other management systems ................................................................ 7
0.10. QM at different levels within the MAP ............................................................................ 8
Quality management in mine action .......................................................................................... 9
1 Scope .................................................................................................................................. 9
2 References .......................................................................................................................... 9
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations .................................................................................. 9
4 Purpose ............................................................................................................................. 10
5 Context .............................................................................................................................. 10
6 Needs and expectations .................................................................................................... 11
7 Gender and diversity ......................................................................................................... 11
8 Scope of the QMS ............................................................................................................. 11
9 Mine action products ......................................................................................................... 11
10 Mine action processes ....................................................................................................... 12
11 Leadership and commitment ............................................................................................. 12
12 Quality Policy ..................................................................................................................... 13
13 Objective setting ................................................................................................................ 13
14 Planning of the QMS ......................................................................................................... 13
15 Mine action resources ....................................................................................................... 14
15.1 General ......................................................................................................................... 14
15.2 People .......................................................................................................................... 14
15.3 Equipment .................................................................................................................... 14
15.4 Information ................................................................................................................... 15
16 Infrastructure and working environment ............................................................................ 15
17 Mine action operations ...................................................................................................... 16
17.1 Requirements for mine action products and services .................................................. 16
17.2 Planning of mine action processes, products and services ......................................... 16

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17.3 Control of mine action processes, products and services ........................................... 16

17.4 Identification and traceability of mine action products and processes ......................... 17
17.5 Process controls ........................................................................................................... 18
17.6 Release of product ....................................................................................................... 18
17.7 Control of nonconforming products .............................................................................. 18
17.8 Post-delivery activities .................................................................................................. 19
18 Communication and participation ...................................................................................... 19
19 Documentation .................................................................................................................. 19
20 Performance ...................................................................................................................... 21
20.1 Monitoring, analysis and evaluation ............................................................................. 21
20.2 Quality audit ................................................................................................................. 21
21 Improvement...................................................................................................................... 21
22 Management review .......................................................................................................... 22
23 Responsibilities ................................................................................................................. 22
23.1 National Mine Action Authority (NMAA) ....................................................................... 22
23.2 Mine Action Centre (MAC) ........................................................................................... 22
23.3 Mine action organisations ............................................................................................ 23
23.4 Donors, clients and other stakeholders ........................................................................ 23
Annex A (Normative) References ............................................................................................... 24

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Foreword
International standards for humanitarian demining programmes were first proposed by
working groups at an international technical conference in Denmark, in July 1996. Criteria
were prescribed for all aspects of demining, standards were recommended and a new
universal definition of ‘clearance’ was agreed. In late 1996, the principles proposed in
Denmark were developed by a UN-led working group and the International Standards for
Humanitarian Mine Clearance Operations were developed. A first edition was issued by the
UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in March 1997.

The scope of these original standards has since been expanded to include the other
components of mine action and to reflect changes to operational procedures, practices and
norms. The standards were re-developed and renamed as International Mine Action
Standards (IMAS) with the first edition produced in October 2001.

The United Nations has a general responsibility for enabling and encouraging the effective
management of mine action programmes, including the development and maintenance of
standards. UNMAS, therefore, is the office within the United Nations responsible for the
development and maintenance of IMAS. IMAS are produced with the assistance of the
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining.

The work of preparing, reviewing and revising IMAS is conducted by technical committees,
with the support of international, governmental and non-governmental organisations. The
latest version of each standard, together with information on the work of the technical
committees, can be found at http://www.mineactionstandards.org/. Individual IMAS are
reviewed at least every three years to reflect developing mine action norms and practices and
to incorporate changes to international regulations and requirements.

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Introduction
0.1. General approach

The introduction to this standard sets out general principles of quality management (QM),
applicable to all activities associated with the different pillars of mine action. The main body
of the standard sets out the minimum requirements for a mine action quality management
system (QMS).

Detail reflecting the application of these principles to specific mine action activities are
included in the relevant IMAS, as identified in Annex A to this standard.

This standard does not seek to introduce new concepts to the mine action sector, or impose
additional burdens, but rather to a) consolidate and define much of what already takes place
in mine action programmes and b) encourage greater consistency with QM as understood
and practised in other sectors and industries.

0.2. Relationship to ISO 9001

This standard draws on the principles and requirements set out in ISO 9001:2015; it does not
replace ISO 9001 within the mine action context. Mine action operators are encouraged to
consider the adoption of formally certified systems such as ISO 9001 as part of their own
management systems.

Mine action programmes and authorities do not have to adopt ISO 9001, or other recognised
QM models, in order to comply with this standard, but there are a number of advantages in
doing so, including:

a. benefiting from the body of experience and knowledge embodied in established

standards, gained from a multitude of industries and activities over many decades;
b. access to established templates, tools and principles;
c. access to a global advisory and training industry;
d. formal confirmation of the suitability and effectiveness of the QMS;
e. simplified processes when bidding for many government contracts around the world;
f. confidence amongst managers in the quality and reliability of work being carried out
by their own organisations; and
g. reduced risk of failure, mistake or nonconformity and the consequences arising from
such events.

ISO 9001:2015 also includes additional material, not addressed in this standard (such as the
management of design processes), that may be of use to some mine action organisations.

0.3. Background

Concepts of QM have developed in the mine action sector, reflecting a wider understanding
of the interactions between practical activities and the needs of affected countries and
peoples, and as authorities and operating organisations have chosen to make more use of
established QM models, such as ISO 9001.

This standard reflects increased expectations amongst donors, authorities and operators in
terms of confidence in relation to every aspect of mine action. While the focus of QM is
primarily on the implementation of effective and appropriate processes to deliver outputs and
products that satisfy defined requirements, there are fundamental links to wider concepts of
results based management (RBM) and the need for mine action to ‘make a difference’.

A primary purpose of IMAS is to support National Mine Action Authorities (NMAAs) in the
development of National Mine Action Standards (NMAS). At the same time IMAS should
provide guidance to other organisations and agencies in the development of their own internal
management systems, procedures and processes. The principles and requirements set out
in this IMAS are relevant to all organisations operating at any and every level within mine

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action.

0.4. Quality in Mine Action

Historically the mine action sector has tended to focus on the quality of one particular product,
cleared land, to the exclusion of others. More recently, efforts have been made to broaden
the scope of QM in mine action to embrace processes, services and products under all five
pillars of mine action (clearance, risk education, victim assistance, advocacy and stockpile
destruction). Quality is a concept that is also applicable to other activities that are increasingly
addressed by mine action organisations such as Ammunition Safety Management (ASM),
Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM) and Small Arms and Light Weapons
(SALW) destruction.

All QM relies upon the availability of information: to inform the planning process; to direct
implementation; to check performance against requirements; and to take action to improve
the quality and safety of processes, services and products. Recent changes to IMAS reflect
the increased emphasis on the use of information as evidence to support decision-making,
and an improved understanding of the interactions between mine action processes.

In the ISO system quality is defined as the ‘degree to which a set of inherent characteristics
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[….] fulfils requirements’. In the context of mine action quality can be defined as ‘the degree
to which a mine action service, product or output fulfils requirements’.

In order for a mine action organisation to be able to achieve quality it is necessary that
requirements are specified. Such specifications may be found in standards, contracts,
memoranda of understanding, task orders and other similar documents. Requirements are
not always specified in writing – they may be implicit, generally understood or otherwise
assumed to be accepted. If requirements are not clearly specified, it makes it hard, and
sometimes impossible, to achieve quality.

0.5. QM and Results Based Management (RBM)

‘RBM is a management strategy by which all actors, contributing directly or indirectly to

achieving a set of results, ensure that their processes, products and services contribute to the
achievement of desired results (outputs, outcomes and higher level goals or impact). The
actors in turn use information and evidence on actual results to inform decision making on the
design, resourcing and delivery of programmes and activities as well as for accountability and
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reporting’.

If QM in mine action is about managing processes that relate to the delivery of mine action
services and products, then RBM is about the extent to which those products and services
make a real difference to affected people. As such, RBM addresses the overall context within
which QM takes place. QM focuses on the ‘processes, products and services’ in the definition
above, but can only do so if the requirements for ‘the achievement of desired results (outputs,
outcomes and higher level goals or impact)’, are themselves clearly defined.

RBM relies on successful application of QM to processes, services and products, while QM

relies upon effective RBM to ensure that requirements are clearly specified and that actual
results are used to drive feedback loops that update and improve all aspects of the QMS.
RBM systems often make use of an annual ‘steering cycle’ linked to annual planning to
review and improve performance.

This standard does not directly address RBM within mine action, but it does emphasise the
importance of understanding RBM and the mine action context, ensuring that quality
requirements are specified and making sure that the needs and expectations of stakeholders

1
ISO 9000:2015 definition 3.1.1
2
Results-Based Management Handbook, United Nations Development Group (UNDG),
October 2011

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are properly reflected in mine action products and services; doing so requires the consistent
and comprehensive application of RBM principles.

0.6. Mine action products

Products of processes may consist of matter, information and/or energy. Mine action
products include, but are not limited to:

a) Information: without accompanying information many products of mine action

(especially those relating to land release) are of limited or no value. Information is a
product in its own right. Records, reports and public information campaigns all deliver
information products to people.
b) Land: land release processes deliver cancelled, reduced and cleared land. All are
required to meet the same basic quality requirement – that they are safe, containing
no specified hazard items down to a specified depth.
c) Hardware: ranging from prosthetic limbs, to training aids made using free from
explosive (FFE) UXO items, to scrap material such as explosives, metal casings, and
dunnage resulting from demilitarisation and stockpile destruction programmes, to the
fencing and warning signs used to delineate hazardous areas and munition depots.
d) People: mine action engages in a wide variety of recruitment and training processes.
Each delivers trained and competent personnel as their product.

Other products/outputs may be associated with specific mine action activities, projects,
programmes and contracts.

While most mine action products come under the headings of ‘matter’ and ‘information’ from a
QM perspective, ‘energy’ products (sound, light, ground shock, etc.) which are also factors if
Open Burning and Open Detonation (OB/OD) are used to destroy excess ammunition and
SA/LW, are likely to be of significance when addressing issues relating to protection of the
environment.

0.7. Principles of QM in Mine Action

0.7.1 General

Managing quality is not a complex or technical challenge. Instead it relies upon the repeated
and consistent application of simple principles across an organisation’s activities. Key
principles that are important to the management of mine action quality are described in the
remainder of this section.

0.7.2 Customer focus

In the context of mine action, the term ‘customer’ can include a range of organisations and
groups that pay for, receive, or have an interest in mine action products, outputs and
outcomes. They include:

a. organisations, groups and individuals that receive mine action products and outputs
including: beneficiaries; land users; land owners; local, regional and national
governments; victims; trainees; etc.;
b. authorities, agencies and groups that organise mine action programmes: NMAAs;
MACs; UN bodies; etc.; and
c. organisations that pay for mine action services: international donors; national and
regional government departments, ministries and agencies; commercial clients; etc.

QM in mine action is focused on satisfying the requirements of the different customer groups,
not just the immediate beneficiaries. In some circumstances (such as between a commercial
client and a mine action service provider) the relationship may be relatively simple. In others
(such as when an NGO is funded by an international donor, tasked by a national authority,
and delivers services/products to a local community) the situation is considerably more
complex.

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The basic principle of ‘customer focus’ remains applicable under all circumstances, but
managers need to exercise judgement in balancing the needs and expectations of different
customer groups.

0.7.3 Leadership

A mine action QMS only succeeds if there is commitment from the highest levels of the mine
action programme (MAP), and within individual mine action organisations.

Mine action leaders (whether at the programme or organisational level) formally communicate
their focus on customer needs and expectations through the Quality Policy, through the
content of QM and other standard operating procedures (SOPs), and through continual
improvement reviews. Informally, leaders communicate their commitment through the
content of documents, meetings, workshops and on every other occasion when there is
interaction with workers and stakeholders.

0.7.4 Engagement of people

An effective QMS doesn’t only require commitment from the highest levels of management. It
requires the people who implement mine action procedures, processes and activities to
understand their roles and responsibilities and have the aptitude, skills and knowledge
necessary to fulfil their functions reliably and consistently.

The best QMS make use of the experience and knowledge of the people who will implement
the system in identifying key processes, developing procedures and setting objectives.
Involving people in the design, development, implementation and review of the QMS
encourages a sense of collective ownership and helps maintain staff confidence in the
suitability and value of the system.

0.7.5 Gender and diversity

No mine action programme can succeed in satisfying stakeholder requirements unless it

reflects the different circumstances, requirements and needs of different gender and diversity
groups.

Doing so is not an optional feature of a mine action QMS, but is fundamental to the concept
and definition of quality.

0.7.6 Process approach

The process approach is based on recognition that, in order to have confidence in the quality
of a product or output from a process, it is necessary to have confidence in the inputs to that
process and the activities within that process.

Figure 1 shows key quality elements and interactions in a process. Tick marks identify
opportunities to check conformity including:

a. assessment of suppliers/providers (including accreditation);

b. quality control (QC) of inputs to a process (such as equipment receiving checks);
c. in-progress monitoring during activities (as described in IMAS 07.40);
d. QC of outputs prior to release (including land release completion processes); and
e. post-release surveys of recipients and beneficiaries (post clearance impact
assessments, beneficiary satisfaction surveys, etc.).

When processes interact they become a system.

Figure 1 also highlights the way that QM is surrounded by RBM. In addition to any monitoring
of customer/stakeholder satisfaction amongst recipients and beneficiaries, the outcomes and
impacts arising from mine action processes and products form an important part of the mine

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action context. The results, outcomes and impacts of previous mine action work should
inform current and future requirements and directly influence the improvement of mine action
processes, products and services.

QM and RBM are often treated as separate, if closely associated functions within a MAP.
Mine action managers and authorities should be careful about doing so. The two approaches
are so closely related, and rely upon each other to such an extent, that MAP managers
should remain constantly aware of the implication of decisions taken in one system upon the
other.

Figure 1: process elements, flow, interactions and checks, including examples of inputs and outputs.

Quality is often defined as the satisfaction of customer (or interested party) requirements, but
it is also important to be confident that the requirements fit into the wider strategic goals,
policy and direction of a MAP or mine action organisation. Satisfying a given requirement may
meet a narrow definition of quality, but it has little merit in the wider context if that requirement
is not associated with a beneficial result, outcome or impact.

One of the characteristics of quality managed products is that they are ‘fit for purpose’. RBM
focuses on questions of purpose and how managers know that a purpose has been satisfied.
The interactions between RBM and QM help ensure that mine action managers understand
and reflect both ‘purpose’ and ‘fitness for purpose’ in every aspect of a mine action
organisation’s processes, products and services.

0.7.7 Continual improvement

The concept of continual improvement is at the heart of any effective QMS. It also reflects
basic principles of professional commitment and an underlying desire to do a good job.
Improvement relates not just to identifying existing problems within a system, but also to
identifying opportunities to make things better.

The driver behind continual improvement processes is the PDCA cycle (plan – do – check –
act). PDCA cycles occur at every level, and within every mine action activity. For most
people principles of continual improvement are instinctive. Within organisations the
improvement process should be managed in a structured way. There are various ways to
illustrate the PDCA cycle, but one of the best known is the Deming/Ishikawa Cycle (figure 2).

Quality mine action organisations are not afraid of finding areas that can be improved; instead
they welcome suggestions, feedback and observations of aspects of the system that can be
improved, from whatever source they come. Equally, authorities and managers do not seek
to punish those who find areas that can be improved; rather they encourage, listen to, and
recognise the professionalism of workers, and other stakeholders, who come forward with
suggestions for improvement.

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Applying the PDCA approach can be quick and simple, or it may be a good deal more
demanding, depending on the circumstances and scale of the activity. The MAP strategic
planning process is a large scale, long duration PDCA cycle. The land release process (with
its repeated decisions in response to non-technical survey (NTS), technical survey (TS),
clearance and handover) is a smaller scale, shorter duration example of a mine action PDCA
cycle. Responding to a nonconformity discovered during field monitoring is another occasion
when the PDCA sequence is put into practice.

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Figure 2: Deming/Ishikawa continual improvement cycle

Similar cycles can be found throughout mine action: they are of the utmost importance.
Improvement takes place every time a PDCA loop is closed. Every time a loop is left open
(typically because no follow-up action was implemented) an opportunity to improve is missed
and a shortcoming in the mine action system is left unaddressed. Failure to respond to
opportunities to improve have a strongly adverse effect on the motivation and engagement of
those workers, and other stakeholders, who are aware of both the opportunity to improve and
the failure to do so.

Not every improvement opportunity requires full formal management, but mine action
managers and authorities need to ensure that those that do justify an active response are
identified, captured within the system and appropriate action is taken.

Any organisation that is serious about the job it does, and that wants others to be aware of
that seriousness, embraces, highlights and is energetic in applying concepts of continual
improvement towards all aspects of its processes, products and services.

0.7.8 Evidence-based decision-making

Using evidence to support decision-making is fundamental to QM in mine action. The same

principles apply to core mine action activities such as Land Release – a process that collects
data to support an iterative process of decision-making about which land remains potentially
hazardous and which can be safely released.

IMAS 07.11 Land Release, 08.10 Non-technical Survey and 08.20 Technical Survey demand
a constant focus on the collection and analysis of evidence to support valid and efficient land
release decision-making. The concept of ‘all reasonable effort’ is one based upon the use of
evidence to show that further action at a land release site is not reasonably (that is logically)
justified.

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Originally developed by Dr W. Edwards Deming; further enhanced by K. Ishikawa.

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Whether mine action managers are deciding how best to target and deliver risk education, are
identifying appropriate action to support victims, or are engaged in planning and implementing
other mine action activities, they should be using available evidence to inform their decisions.
Where evidence is not available they should be taking steps to obtain it.

07.40 Monitoring of Mine Action Organisations focuses on the collection and analysis of
evidence to support decision-making in relation to the performance of mine action
organisations, and the continual improvement of mine action activities, processes and
products.

Using, and recording, evidence to support mine action decisions is not only good practice in
QM terms. It also plays an important part in the management of liability, by providing objective
evidence to demonstrate compliance with standards and SOPs, should decision-makers ever
be called upon to justify their actions.

0.7.9 Relationship management

Mine action involves large numbers of individual people and many organisations. Quality is
best managed when people and organisations communicate their expectations to, and
understand the expectations of, others. Organisations within a MAP should have goals and
objectives that are aligned and incentives that are compatible and mutually beneficial.

Relationships need to be managed with all stakeholders, although the means of doing so
varies significantly depending upon the roles and level of engagement of different
stakeholders.

Relationships may be managed through formal means, such as contracts and agreements,
and informally during normal working interactions. Stakeholders who have the opportunity to
participate, at an appropriate level, in mine action planning, implementing, monitoring and
decision-making, tend to be motivated, supportive and competent.

0.8. Risk management and quality

The mine action sector is making more use of structured risk management principles and
tools across all activities and at all levels within MAPs and individual organisations. Formal
QM systems (such as ISO 9001) now make more explicit use of risk management
approaches and terminology and expect organisations seeking certification to do so.

QM (like environmental and safety management) is a risk management process. It involves

identifying aspects of an organisation’s processes and products that could fail to satisfy
requirements and then developing procedures, checks and monitoring systems to reduce the
chances of failure to a tolerable level.

Risk and opportunity are closely associated. Mine action organisations encounter
opportunities to improve the services and products they offer, and to improve the extent to
which they satisfy stakeholder requirements. Principles of continual improvement help
organisations respond to opportunities to improve at every level.

Risk is defined as ‘the effect of uncertainty on objectives’ (ISO Guide 73:2009). Risk is
typically expressed through reference to the ‘combination of the probability of occurrence of
harm and the severity of that harm’ (IMAS 04.10 and ISO Guide 51:1999). The primary
means of reducing uncertainty, in any situation or circumstance, is the systematic collection
and analysis of sufficient, relevant information.

0.9. Relationships to other management systems

Environmental and safety management are closely associated with quality, particularly in
relation to technical mine action activities such as survey and clearance, EOD and stockpile
destruction. Existing occupational health and safety management systems, such as OHSAS

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18001, and environmental management systems, such as ISO 14001, exhibit many of the
same features as QM systems.

Organisations choosing to gain certification against safety and environmental management

standards make extensive use of tools (such as management review, response to
nonconformity, control of documents) found within the QMS.

Mine action organisations typically address safety and occupational health (S&OH) and
environmental management requirements within their SOPs. SOPs constitute a key part of
the mine action QMS.

IMAS 10.10 details general requirements for mine action safety and occupational health
(S&OH) and IMAS 10.70 addresses requirements in relation to protection of the environment.

The QMS is informed by aspects of the strategic context, reflected in national mine action
strategic plans (NMASPs), as well as at the organisational level. The QMS should also be
consistent with the higher level goals and objectives of a programme or organisation. At the
same time, principles of QM are applicable when developing a strategic plan. Whether using
the PDCA cycle to drive the development, implementation, evaluation and improvement of a
strategic plan, or in ensuring that strategic documentation satisfies stakeholder requirements,
QM is an important feature of a good strategic management process.

0.10. QM at different levels within the MAP

Although principles of QM are almost universally applicable, across different activities, and at
different levels within an organisation or programme, there are important differences to be
considered when seeking to apply QM at the overall programme level. QMS (such as ISO
9001) are generally designed to be applied within a clear hierarchical management structure.

In situations where such a structure does not exist, or there is reliance upon consensus rather
than directive, such as when applied to an entire MAP, authorities may wish to consider
4
applying additional approaches as well as RBM.

4
Such as the Capacity Works cooperation management system – developed by GIZ (the
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)

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Quality management in mine action

1 Scope

This standard provides guidelines for the implementation of a quality management system
(QMS) for mine action programmes and organisations. It is primarily intended for application
by national mine action authorities (NMAAs) and national mine action centres (MACs), but its
principles remain valid for, and should be used to form the basis of, internal QMSs employed
by mine action organisations and governmental agencies in those countries where the
Ministry of Defence or Ministry of the Interior exercise exclusive authority over PSSM, ASM,
and SA/LW destruction activities.

The decision, by a NMAA or other authority, to adopt a QMS for the national mine action
programme does not in any way remove from mine action implementing organisations the
requirement to manage the quality of their own services and products. A mine action
implementing organisation’s own QMS should be consistent with the QM requirements of the
MAP.

This standard should be used in conjunction with IMAS 07.40 Monitoring of Mine Action
organisations.

2 References

A list of normative references is given in Annex A. Normative references are documents to

which reference is made in this standard and which form part of this standard.

3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations

A complete glossary of the terms, definitions and abbreviations used in the IMAS series of
standards is given in IMAS 04.10.

In the IMAS series of standards, the words 'shall', 'should' and 'may' are used to indicate the
intended degree of compliance. This use is consistent with the language used in the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards and guidelines:

a) 'shall' is used to indicate requirements, methods or specifications that are to be

applied in order to conform to the standard;

b) 'should' is used to indicate the preferred requirements, methods or specifications;

and

c) 'may' is used to indicate a possible method or course of action.

The term 'National Mine Action Authority' (NMAA) refers to the government entity, in a mine-
affected country, with the responsibility for the regulation, management and coordination of
mine action.

Note: In the absence of a NMAA, the United Nations, or some other recognised
international body, may assume some or all of the responsibilities, and fulfil some or
all the functions, of an NMAA.

A mine action organisation is “any organisation (government, military, commercial or

NGO/civil society) responsible for implementing mine action projects or tasks. The mine
action organisation may be a prime contractor, subcontractor, consultant or agent.” IMAS
04.10 May 2013.

A ‘sub-unit' is part of a mine action organisation which is operationally accredited to conduct

one or more defined mine action activities, such as technical surveys, manual clearance,
explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), mine risk education or task prioritisation.

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Quality in Mine Action is ‘the degree to which a mine action service, product or output fulfils
requirements’.

A process is a “set of interrelated or interacting activities that use inputs to deliver an intended
result” (ISO 9000:2015)

Inputs are “resources required for a process or intervention including: people; money;
materials; equipment; information and energy”.

An output is “the result of a process” (ISO 9000:2015). Outputs include “The products, capital
goods and services which result from a development intervention; may also include changes
resulting from the intervention which are relevant to the achievement of outcomes” (OECD
glossary of key terms in evaluation and results based management).

Outcomes are “the likely or achieved short-term and medium-term effects of an intervention’s
outputs” (OECD glossary of key terms in evaluation and results based management).

Impacts are the “positive and negative, primary and secondary long-term effects produced by
a development intervention, directly or indirectly, intended or unintended” (OECD glossary of
key terms in evaluation and results based management).

Quality management (QM) is “Management with regard to quality. QM can include

establishing quality policies and quality objectives, and processes to achieve these quality
objectives through quality planning, quality assurance, quality control and quality
improvement.” (ISO 9000:2015)

Quality Assurance (QA) is “part of quality management focused on providing confidence that
quality requirements will be fulfilled” (ISO 9000:2015). QA is a confidence-building process,
based on evidence, that the quality requirements are likely be met. QA encompasses all pro-
active activity undertaken by an organization to increase confidence in the likelihood that
requirements will be met.

Quality Control (QC) is “part of quality management focused on fulfilling quality requirements”
(ISO 9000:2015). QC addresses the question “did we get what we wanted?”

Competence is the “ability to apply knowledge and skills to achieve intended results” (ISO
9000:2015).

Improvement is “activity to enhance performance”. (ISO 9000:2015)

Conformity is “fulfilment of a requirement”, nonconformity is “non-fulfilment of a requirement’.

(ISO 9000:2015)

An interested party is a “person or organisation that can affect, be affected by, or perceive
itself to be affected by a decision or activity” (ISO 9000:2015). In mine action an interested
party is often called a stakeholder. The term stakeholder is used in this standard.

4 Purpose

The overall aim of mine action QM is to provide confidence (to the beneficiary, the mine
action organisation, the NMAA, the donor and to other stakeholders) that quality requirements
have been met or exceeded, and that mine action products and services are ‘fit for purpose’.

5 Context

Mine action organisations shall identify and assess internal and external aspects that are
relevant to the intended strategic direction and that may influence the activities, outputs and
intended outcomes of mine action activity.

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a) The internal context relates to the activities, resources, structure, values, culture,
knowledge and performance of the mine action organisation or programme.
b) The external mine action context relates to political, economic, social, technical,
environmental and legal aspects relevant to the organisation/programme, at local,
regional, national and international levels.

Analysis of the mine action context should include an assessment of key trends of
significance to the programme/organisation.

6 Needs and expectations

The needs and expectations of stakeholders shall be identified, analysed, assessed and
appropriately reflected in the QMS. Mine Action Programme stakeholders include, but are not
limited to:

a) National mine action authorities (NMAAs);

b) Mine action centres (MACs), including QM elements;
c) Beneficiaries;
d) Monitoring bodies;
e) Mine action organisations;
f) Government ministries and agencies;
g) International institutions;
h) International donors;
i) Commercial investors and land developers;
j) Mine victims;
k) Land owners and users; and
l) Local communities, society and the general public, women, girls, boys and men.

7 Gender and diversity

The QMS shall take into account, and appropriately reflect, the different needs, expectations
and requirements of gender and diversity groups.

The QMS should collect, report and analyse data relating to gender and diversity aspects of
its planning, prioritization, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and review functions. Sex
and age disaggregated data (SADD) should be used.

8 Scope of the QMS

The scope of the QMS shall be determined and documented in light of:

a) the context of the mine action organisation/programme;

b) the needs and expectations of stakeholders; and
c) the products, services and outputs of the mine action organisation/programme.

In determining the scope of the QMS authorities/managers should take into account the need
for connectivity between the QMS and wider systems of results based management (RBM)
including intended results, outcomes and impacts arising from mine action work.

9 Mine action products

Mine action authorities/managers shall identify mine action products relevant to their
operations. As a minimum the following mine action products shall be subject to QM:

a) released land (cancelled, reduced and/or cleared);

b) EO for disposal (destruction, transfer, sale, etc.);
c) data, information and reports;
d) recruited and trained personnel;
e) procured mine action equipment;

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f) prosthetics and orthotics;

g) mine risk education materials;
h) processing lines for demilitarization of ammunition and SA/LW; and
i) other products identified by mine action authorities/managers as being relevant to the
scope of their operations.

10 Mine action processes

Mine action authorities/managers shall identify, define and document processes relevant to
their operations. As a minimum the QMS shall include processes relating to:

a) Delivery of products/services to end users/beneficiaries including;

 Land release;
 Risk education (e.g. materials and communication);
 Victim assistance (e.g. prosthetic manufacture);
 Stockpile management;
b) Direct support to processes that deliver product/services including;
 Planning, prioritization and tasking;
 Recruitment and training;
 Procurement and equipment management; and
 Information management.
c) Other significant aspects of the organisation/programme’s operations, activities,
outputs and objectives as determined by the relevant authorities/managers.

Each process within the QMS shall be documented including:

e) An identifying title/reference for the process;

f) The inputs and outputs associated with the process;
g) Interaction between processes and the order of any interaction;
h) Associated effectiveness and efficiency performance indicators; and
i) Identification of who/which job functions have responsibility and authority for
implementation of the process.

Processes may be documented as SOPs.

11 Leadership and commitment

Successful development, adoption, implementation and continual improvement of a QMS is

dependent upon leadership and continued commitment from the highest levels within the
organisation/programme.

Authorities and managers shall:

a) establish, document and maintain a quality policy;

b) establish, document and maintain quality objectives, consistent with the overall
strategic direction and context within which the organisation operates;
c) monitor and review the progress and performance of the QMS and take action as
necessary to ensure that quality objectives are achieved;
d) integrate the QMS into the organisation/programme’s wider strategic goals,
objectives and RBM systems;
e) ensure that adequate resources are available to maintain the QMS;
f) communicate the importance of conforming to the requirements of the QMS; and
g) ensure that the integrity of the QMS is maintained whenever changes are planned
and implemented.

Authorities and managers shall ensure that the organisation/programme is focused on

identifying, understanding and satisfying the needs of end users, beneficiaries and other
significant stakeholders.

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12 Quality Policy

A mine action quality policy shall be established and documented. The mine action quality
policy shall:

a. Be appropriate to the purpose, functions and strategic objectives of the mine action
organisation/programme;
b. Include a commitment to satisfying applicable requirements including:
 National Mine Action Standards (NMAS);
 International Mine Action Standards (IMAS), in the absence of NMAS;
 International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATGs), where applicable;
 Other applicable national and international conventions, laws, treaties,
regulations, standards and agreements.
c. Include a commitment to the continual improvement of mine action processes,
products and services, as well as the QMS; and
d. Provide a framework for setting quality objectives.

The policy shall be communicated to, and be understood by, all those with functions and
responsibilities within the programme/organisation’s activities and QMS. The quality policy
should be made available to all stakeholders.

13 Objective setting

Mine action organisations/programmes shall specify relevant and achievable quality

objectives that are:

a) relevant to the scope of the organisation/programme’s mine action processes,

products and services;
b) consistent with the organisation/programme’s quality policy;
c) measurable;
d) monitored, reviewed and updated;
e) communicated; and
f) include relevant aspects of stakeholder satisfaction.

Mine action organisations shall specify relevant and achievable operational objectives for
mine action activities that:

g) reflect applicable operational requirements;

h) are measurable;
i) allow monitoring of performance against deadlines, schedules, budgets and other
criteria as appropriate;

14 Planning of the QMS

When planning a mine action QMS relevant authorities/managers shall take action to ensure
that the QMS can achieve its intended results including:

a) understanding the requirements and expectations of mine action stakeholders;

b) preventing or reducing nonconformity; and
c) enhancing performance.

Planning of the QMS shall include:

d) what will be done;

e) what resources will be required;
f) who will be responsible;
g) when action will be completed; and
h) how the performance of the QMS will be monitored and evaluated.

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When changes are made to the QMS, authorities/managers shall:

i) specify the purpose of the changes;

j) identify potential consequences of the changes;
k) ensure the continued integrity of the QMS;
l) ensure that adequate resources are available to implement the changes; and
m) communicate any changes to responsibilities and authorities.

15 Mine action resources

15.1 General

Adequate resources shall be provided to perform functions, including QM functions,

necessary to maintain confidence in the safety, efficiency and effectiveness of mine action
services and products.

15.2 People

Mine action authorities and managers shall:

a) determine the competence requirements of job functions affecting the performance

of mine action processes and products (including those related to PSSM, ASM and
SA/LW destruction);
b) confirm the competence of workers on the basis of appropriate education, training
and/or experience;
c) where necessary, take action to ensure the competence of workers through
recruitment, transfer or additional training;
d) monitor the effectiveness of training; and
e) retain appropriate records of training and competence.

Mine action workers shall be made aware of:

f) the quality policy;

g) quality objectives relevant to their job functions;
h) the significance of their roles and responsibilities in relation to the quality of mine
action processes, services and products; and
i) the quality and safety implications of not conforming with the QMS.

15.3 Equipment

Mine action authorities and managers shall:

a) determine equipment requirements necessary to deliver safe, efficient and effective

mine action processes, products and services;
b) specify requirements, communicate requirements to suppliers and implement
procurement processes;
c) ensure that equipment is checked on receipt to confirm that it satisfies requirements;
d) establish maintenance schedules in accordance with manufacturer’s
recommendations and as required by prevailing circumstances and conditions;
e) ensure that adequate training of equipment operators is carried out;
f) ensure that equipment is tested before operational use;
g) implement operational controls, checks and tests to confirm the continued suitability
and functioning of equipment;
h) ensure that non-conforming equipment is marked and/or segregated to avoid its
inadvertent use;
i) ensure that appropriate repair or disposal action is carried out on non-conforming
equipment; and
j) maintain and retain equipment documentation appropriate to the type, value and
significance of the equipment.

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15.4 Information

Mine action authorities and managers shall:

a) determine information requirements necessary to deliver safe, efficient and effective

mine action;
b) establish policies and procedures as required to ensure that mine action information
can be collected/accessed by mine action organisations and stakeholders;
c) ensure that necessary information is collected, reported, analysed and disseminated
by competent persons in accordance with requirements (in the form of standards,
policies, SOPs, forms, templates, etc.);
d) manage mine action information in accordance with IMAS 05.10;
e) retain, secure, protect and back up mine action information;
f) ensure that mine action information is available to stakeholders in a timely and easy-
to-access form;
g) identify and respond to continual improvement opportunities relating to mine action
information and its management; and
h) seek feedback from mine action information users to determine levels of satisfaction.

If necessary, mine action authorities should seek the establishment of legislation and other
appropriate legal instruments to ensure the availability of mine action information from
relevant sources.

Mine action authorities and managers should determine and implement appropriate policies,
procedures and practices in relation to mine action information that increase transparency
and accountability and that make it easier for stakeholders to access information ‘on demand’
as well as ‘on request’.

16 Infrastructure and working environment

Mine action authorities and managers shall ensure that buildings, equipment (including
medical items), software and transport are suitable for safe and efficient mine action activities.

Mine action authorities and managers shall ensure that the mine action working environment
is suitable for the safe, efficient and effective implementation of mine action processes. The
working environment shall, so far as circumstances allow, be:

a) safe;
b) non-discriminatory and non-confrontational;
c) stress-reducing; and
d) comfortable.

The nature of mine action is such that work may take place under difficult conditions. Mine
action authorities and managers shall, at all times, take all reasonable measures to satisfy the
requirements of this standard with respect to working environment.

As a minimum mine action authorities and manager shall ensure that mine action operations
comply with IMAS series 10 (Mine action safety and occupational health).

Under circumstances where there is reason to believe that working conditions may adversely
influence the safety and/or quality of mine action processes and products, mine action
authorities and managers should implement additional measures to address the situation, or
suspend operations until more appropriate conditions prevail.

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17 Mine action operations

17.1 Requirements for mine action products and services

Mine action organisations/programmes shall determine the requirements for the mine action
products and services within their scope of operations. In determining requirements
authorities/managers shall take into account:

a) applicable standards;
b) accreditation agreements;
c) applicable laws, regulations and other legislation;
d) contracts, memoranda of understanding and other relevant agreements;
e) work plans, task orders and other operational direction; and
f) requests and preferences expressed by beneficiaries and other stakeholders.

17.2 Planning of mine action processes, products and services

Mine action operations shall be planned and controlled to a level necessary to satisfy
requirements and to maintain confidence amongst interested parties in the safety and quality
of mine action processes, services and products.

Mine action operational planning shall:

a) be based upon up to date and relevant information;

b) reflect the requirements of agreed objectives;
c) be consistent with quality and other policies;
d) define intended activities;
e) identify resources;
f) specify roles and responsibilities;
g) reflect gender and diversity considerations;
h) reflect environmental considerations;
i) set target milestones and/or completion dates;
j) describe how results will be monitored and evaluated; and
k) be documented.

Mine action authorities and managers shall take effective action to access, collect, or
otherwise obtain, information necessary for planning purposes.

Mine action authorities and managers shall take appropriate and effective action to ensure
that all information necessary for effective and efficient mine action planning is made
available to relevant stakeholders.

17.3 Control of mine action processes, products and services

Mine action authorities and managers shall ensure that processes, products and services
conform to requirements.

Methods to check conformity include, but are not limited to:

a) accreditation of service/product suppliers (in accordance with IMAS 07.30);

b) assessment of suppliers through questionnaires/visits to supplier premises;
c) review of the supplier’s previous performance;
d) monitoring of supplier performance (in accordance with IMAS 07.40); and/or
e) inspection of supplier-provided product (in accordance with IMAS 07.40).

The level of checking shall be determined on the basis of:

f) the safety and quality significance of the process, service or product being provided;
and
g) the effectiveness of the provider’s own QMS.

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The same level of conformity shall be ensured in relation to externally provided processes,
services and products as to those provided from within the mine action
organisation/programme. Externally provided processes, services and products are those
that:

h) will be incorporated into the programme/organisation’s own mine action products and
services; and
i) are provided directly to beneficiaries on behalf of the mine action
programme/organisation.

Mine action processes, services and products relating to the survey, clearance, destruction,
management or other handling of explosive ordnance should always be subject to
accreditation by an appropriate national authority (in accordance with IMAS 07.30).

In the event that formal accreditation processes (as specified in IMAS 07.30) are not
established, the relevant authority should take appropriate action to satisfy itself of the
competence of the mine action organisation in carrying out and delivering the specified mine
action processes, services and products.

Mine action authorities/managers shall retain documented information necessary to

demonstrate conformity of externally provided processes, services and products.

17.4 Identification and traceability of mine action products and processes

Mine action resources, products and materials shall be identifiable and traceable to a level
necessary to:

a) maintain stakeholder confidence in the safety and quality of mine action services and
products;
b) identify nonconforming products;
c) support root cause analysis in the event of nonconformity;
d) allow operational analysis of the effectiveness and efficiency of mine action
processes and products; and
e) support continual improvement of mine action processes, products and services.

The following mine action products and resources shall, as a minimum, be identifiable and
traceable:

f) released land: uniquely identified and mapped;

g) survey and clearance teams, and the members of those teams: uniquely identified
and traceable to tasks and sites;
h) survey and clearance equipment/assets (detectors, locators, mine detection dogs,
other animal detection systems, mechanical demining machinery): uniquely identified
and traceable to tasks and sites;
i) Explosive Ordnance (EO) discovered, destroyed, transported, managed or stored:
identified by type and quantity and located (in accordance with minimum data
collection requirements in IMAS 07.11, 08.10 and 08.20 and applicable IATGs);
j) prosthetic devices provided to mine/UXO victims: uniquely identified and traceable to
users; and
k) mine and ERW risk education lessons; uniquely identified and traceable to location of
delivery.

Additional and/or more detailed identification and traceability procedures should be

implemented where stakeholder requirements and the prevailing circumstances and
conditions justify doing so.

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17.5 Process controls

Appropriate controls shall be applied to mine action processes to ensure conformity to

requirements, including:

a) people: checks to confirm competence, fitness and availability in adequate numbers;

b) equipment: checks to confirm adequate performance:
 accredited/accepted (if required);
 complete;
 serviceable;
 tested prior to, during and after use;
c) documentation: procedures, work instructions and forms are available on site and at
the current issue level; and
d) measures: effectiveness and efficiency performance indicators, deadlines, targets,
etc. are established and understood on site.

Process controls shall, in the first instance, be applied by mine action operating organisations
in respect of their own processes using appropriate supervisory and internal monitoring
functions.

Additional monitoring of process performance should be conducted by external agencies in

accordance with IMAS 07.40.

17.6 Release of product

Mine action organisations/programmes shall implement procedures to verify that

requirements have been met before products are released to recipients.

Mine action organisations/programmes shall retain documented information on the release of

mine action products including evidence of conformity to requirements. The documented
information shall, as a minimum, be traceable to:

a) the organisation delivering the product;

b) the organisation responsible for quality checking of the product (if applicable); and
c) the person authorizing release.

Specific requirements relating to release of land are detailed in IMAS 08.30.

17.7 Control of nonconforming products

If there is any doubt about the conformity of product it shall not be released. Non-conforming
product shall be identified and its unintentional release prevented.

In the event that product is found or suspected to be nonconforming, action shall be taken in
accordance with IMAS 07.40 reflecting the nature of the nonconformity, its significance for
stakeholder confidence and safety, and its implications within the QMS to:

a) segregate/mark nonconforming product to ensure it is not inadvertently released (until

it has been corrected);
b) correct the nonconformity (if possible); and
c) prevent recurrence of the nonconformity.

Other actions may include:

d) return of the product to its supplier (if appropriate);

e) informing the intended product recipient and relevant stakeholders such as donors;
and
5
f) agreeing with the intended recipient to release the product without further action.

5
Known as ‘acceptance under concession’ in ISO quality terms (ISO 9000:2015).

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17.8 Post-delivery activities

Following delivery of mine action services and products authorities and managers shall:

a) check that requirements have been satisfied;

b) check for any undesirable or adverse consequences and take action to prevent their
reoccurrence; and
c) analyse performance data in support of continual improvement processes.

Stakeholder feedback shall be obtained as part of mine action product performance

monitoring processes.

Long term monitoring of mine action product performance should be carried out in
accordance with IMAS 07.40 through:

d) analysis of data held in mine action information management systems;

e) analysis of data from information management systems external to the mine action
programme (such as national health systems); and
f) pro-active surveys of locations and regions where product has previously been
released to customers.

18 Communication and participation

Mine action organisations/programmes shall communicate with relevant workers,

beneficiaries, donors, authorities and other stakeholders:

a) to provide information relating to mine action products and services;

b) to ensure awareness and understanding necessary for competent mine action;
c) when planning and reviewing the QMS;
d) as required by conventions, treaties, standards, SOPs, agreements and contracts;
e) when handling enquiries, contracts, tasking including changes; and
f) in order to obtain and respond to stakeholder feedback.

The form, content and frequency of communication shall be determined on the basis of each
stakeholder’s relationship with the mine action organisation/programme.

Mine action authorities and managers shall gather and share relevant information, expertise
and resources with mine action stakeholders.

Mine action authorities and managers shall be as transparent and accountable in their mine
action communication processes as is consistent with legal and commercial limitations.

Mine action planning, implementation and monitoring shall include participation of relevant
workers and stakeholders.

Mine action authorities and managers should seek to establish collaborative, rather than
confrontational, relationships with other mine action partners, providers and stakeholders.
Mine action authorities and managers should recognise improvements and achievements
made by mine action providers, partners and other stakeholders.

19 Documentation

The mine action QMS shall be documented in accordance with this standard and shall include
additional documentation as necessary for the safe, efficient and effective
implementation/delivery of mine action processes, services and products. In determining the
level of documentation mine action authorities and managers shall take into account:

a) the size of the mine action organisation/programme;

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b) the complexity of those mine action processes carried out by the

organisation/programme;
c) the complexity of interactions between mine action processes within the
organisation/programme and with external stakeholders; and
d) the competence of workers.

As a minimum mine action quality documentation shall include:

e) quality policy;
f) quality objectives;
g) management review outputs and results;
h) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) appropriate to the scope of the
organisation/programme’s activities;
i) quality, safety and environmental management procedures (which may form part of
the body of SOPs);
j) operational records as required by applicable international/national standards and by
the approved SOPs;
k) QA and QC records as defined within the QMS;
l) Records of any nonconformity and any corrective actions in accordance with IMAS
07.40;
m) records of stakeholder feedback;
n) other operational records and reports as required by relevant authorities/managers;
and
o) other records required to satisfy stakeholder requirements.

Mine action documentation shall be:

p) uniquely identified and/or described;

q) appropriately formatted (language, templates, media, etc.); and
r) reviewed and approved by an appropriate authority/manager.

Mine action authorities/managers shall ensure that:

s) mine action documentation is available for use when and where it is needed;
t) externally provided documentation is kept up to date;
u) changes to documents are controlled to ensure that only the current version is in use;
and
v) mine action documentation is appropriately protected, stored and preserved.

The purpose of mine action documentation is to communicate information. When assessing

the quality of mine action documentation, and considering whether it is fit for purpose, mine
action authorities and managers should take into account:

 clarity - for the intended readership in the appropriate language;

 completeness – the extent to which the document addresses all relevant points and
topics; and
 brevity – the extent to which the document does not include unnecessary material, or
material that is already available in other documentation.

Mine action documentation shall be retained for a period consistent with:

 applicable legislation (in the host country and in the county where the mine action
organisation is registered);
 national mine action standards; and/or
 donor, customer and other relevant stakeholder requirements.

Documentation relating to the release of land (cancelled, reduced and/or cleared) is of

particular importance and should be subject to formal long-term archiving in the host country.

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Mine action organisations and relevant international institutions should take appropriate
additional action to satisfy themselves that land release documentation will continue to be
available irrespective of events in the host country.

20 Performance
20.1 Monitoring, analysis and evaluation

Monitoring of performance is a critical function in any QMS. The mine action

organisation/programme shall determine:

a) what needs to be monitored and measured;

b) methods for monitoring, measurement, analysis and assessment;
c) when monitoring of mine action processes and products shall be performed;
d) how and when results from mine action monitoring will be analysed.

Monitoring in a mine action QMS should be carried out in accordance with the requirements
of IMAS 07.40 Monitoring of Mine Action Organisations.

The results of monitoring shall be used to assess:

e) the extent to which products and services meet requirements;

f) the degree of stakeholder satisfaction;
g) the performance of the QMS;
h) the effectiveness of planning, prioritisation and tasking functions;
i) the effectiveness of risk management functions; and
j) the performance of external providers (if applicable).

Evaluation of mine action interventions should be carried out in accordance with the
requirements of IMAS 14.10. The results of evaluations should be considered during
management reviews of the QMS.

20.2 Quality audit

A quality audit is a particular form of monitoring activity. It implies a degree of formality that
may be less evident during routine monitoring activities.

Mine action organisations should implement a programme of internal audits of the QMS in
accordance with Annex B of IMAS 07.40.

Mine action programmes (as well as donors, commercial clients and others funding mine
action work) may additionally implement a programme of external audits on mine action
organisations in accordance with Annex B of IMAS 07.40.

21 Improvement

Opportunities to enhance performance may arise at any time and be identified by anyone.
Mine action authorities/managers shall implement measures to encourage workers,
managers and other stakeholders to bring real or potential nonconformities, and other
opportunities for improvement, to the attention of relevant managers.

Mine action organisations/programmes shall establish processes to identify, assess and act
on opportunities for improvement to the QMS and to mine action processes, services and
products.

Improvement through correcting, preventing or reducing nonconformities and other

undesirable effects shall be managed in accordance with IMAS 07.40.

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22 Management review

Management reviews should be conducted by the senior management of mine action

organisations/programmes at appropriate intervals to ensure the continued effectiveness,
suitability and alignment of the QMS with the organisation/programme’s strategic objectives.

Management reviews should be conducted at least annually, or more frequently in light of

prevailing circumstances and conditions.

Management reviews should take into account:

a) the status of actions arising from previous reviews;

b) changes in the mine action context relevant to the QMS;
c) performance of the QMS including:
 stakeholder satisfaction
 extent to which quality objectives have been met
 performance of processes, products and services
 nonconformities and corrective actions
 monitoring, measurement, audit and evaluation results
 external provider performance
d) performance of resources; and
e) opportunities for improvement.

Management reviews shall include decisions and actions related to:

f) opportunities for improvement;

g) changes to the QMS; and
h) resource needs, suitability and competence.

Actions arising from management reviews shall state what action will be taken, who will be
responsible, by when action will be completed and how effective implementation of action will
be checked.

The results of management reviews shall be communicated to workers, managers and

stakeholders.

23 Responsibilities
23.1 National Mine Action Authority (NMAA)

The NMAA, or an organisation acting on its behalf, shall:

a) establish, communicate and maintain a MAP quality policy;

b) ensure that organisations working within the MAP establish appropriate quality
objectives;
c) specify the national standards and provide guidelines for the QM of mine action
organisations and activities;
d) establish, accredit and audit a quality monitoring body (or bodies), in accordance
with the requirements of IMAS 07.40;
e) review the quality performance of the MAP at intervals of no more than twelve
months; and
f) ensure appropriate follow-up action is taken in light of the conclusions and
recommendations of MAP QM reviews.

23.2 Mine Action Centre (MAC)

The MAC shall:

a) establish and maintain an effective and documented QMS;

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b) establish a quality policy appropriate to the scope of its own activities and consistent
with any MAP quality policy;
c) establish quality objectives in line with its own quality policy;

The MAC, or a body operating on its behalf, shall:

d) have accreditation from the NMAA to operate as a monitoring body; and

e) monitor mine action organisations in accordance with IMAS 07.40.

23.3 Mine action organisations

Mine action organisations shall:

a) establish and maintain an effective and documented QMS;

b) establish a quality policy appropriate to the scope of the organisation’s own activities
and consistent with any MAP quality policy;
c) establish quality objectives in line with the organisation’s quality policy;
d) apply management practices, and QM and operational procedures which lead to
mine action activities that meet or exceed agreed, specified standards (usually
NMAS, IMAS or IATGs), and that also meet or exceed requirements specified in the
contract, accreditation agreement, other relevant formal agreements and applicable
rules and regulations;
e) maintain, ensure the accuracy and validity, and make available documentation
(including SOPs and other written procedures), reports, records, (including internal
monitoring and quality reports), and other data on their activities in accordance with
IMAS 07.40;

In the absence of a NMAA or similar authority, the mine action organisation should assume
additional responsibilities. These include:

f) agree with the donor (or client, or customer) a system for managing the quality of the
mine action activities; and
g) assist the host nation, during the establishment of a NMAA, in framing national
standards for QM.

23.4 Donors, clients and other stakeholders

Those organisations contracting or funding mine action operations should:

a) specify and agree their service/product/output requirements to mine action

organisations in clear and unambiguous terms; and
b) include details of the national QM requirements, or in the absence of a NMAA,
requirements established by the UN or other appropriate international body.

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 IMAS 07.12
Draft First Edition
(1st July 2016)

Annex A
(Normative)
References
The following normative documents contain provisions, which, through reference in this text,
constitute provisions of this part of the standard. For dated references, subsequent
amendments to, or revisions of, any of these publications do not apply. However, parties to
agreements based on this part of the standard are encouraged to investigate the possibility of
applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. For undated
references, the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies. Members of ISO
and IEC maintain registers of currently valid ISO or EN:

a) IMAS 04.10 Terms and definitions;

b) IMAS 05.10 Information management for mine action;

c) IMAS 07.11 Land release;

d) IMAS 07.30 Accreditation of demining organizations;

e) IMAS 07.40 Monitoring of mine action organizations;

f) IMAS 08.10 Non-technical Survey;

g) IMAS 08.20 Technical Survey;

h) IMAS 08.30 Post-clearance documentation;

i) IMAS 09.10 Clearance requirements;

j) IMAS 10.10 Safety and Occupational Health – General requirements;

k) IMAS 10.70 Safety and Occupational Health - Protection of the environment; and

l) IMAS 14.10 Guide for the evaluation of mine action interventions.

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